slides: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not? - Jan. 20, 2017

Friday, January 20, 2017

 

View Larger +

Russ Moore

Every Friday, GoLocalProv's Russ Moore breaks down who is rising and who is falling in RI politics, business, and sports. Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns.

 

Related Slideshow: Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not? - Jan. 20, 2017

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

Gina Raimondo

Sure, there are plenty of reasons to be critical of her creation of a brand new college entitlement program here in Rhode Island. But it was a brilliant move, everyone seems to support it, and it will give her a massive political advantage moving forward into the next election cycle. This was a savvy political move by the governor. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

Donald Trump

Love him or hate him, Trump has accomplished a feat most “experts”, including supposed statistics and polling genius Nate Silver (who gave Trump a 2 percent chance of even winning the Republican nomination) deemed impossible. Now it’s up to Trump to fulfill his campaign promises of improving the economy and destroying ISIS. Let’s all hope he’s successful. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

Restaurant Week

One of the best things about our little state is the diverse cuisine offered at so many excellent and diverse restaurants. We’re in the midst of the state’s winter restaurant week period, so do yourself and the economy a favor by going out and having yourself a great dinner at one of our awesome establishments. (I highly recommend Massimo, located on historic Federal Hill.)

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

Patricia Raskin

For the past 25 years, Raskin has been providing small business owners and entrepreneurs valuable advice on how to solve problems creatively and in a way that helps them and their customers at the same time. Raskin’s show, heard on 630 WPRO on Saturdays from 3-5 continues to be a great resource for small business owners and all businessmen and women. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

New England Patriots

When a football team can easily win a game even when they’re not playing anything near their best--that’s impressive. That’s exactly what New England did last weekend, easily besting the Houston Texans. Now the Pittsburgh Steelers team that boasts impressive superstars, but top to bottom, isn’t as talented as the Patriots, stands in the way. The Patriots are the favorites to return to yet another Super Bowl under the leadership of Bill Belichick and superstar quarterback Tom Brady. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

HOT

Providence Children’s Film Festival

There will be a children’s film festival taking place in Providence on February 17 to the 26 and will feature 14 feature-length and 75 short films from around the world at venues primarily in Providence but also at venues from across the state. It should a good opportunity for parents to see some excellent films with their children. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Providence Student Union

The student-led organization that doesn’t like standardized tests (who can blame them, I didn’t either when I was their age), is apparently planning to walk out during of class during Friday’s Presidential Inauguration to “protest against the policies under the Trump administration." If the students truly want to protest the Trump policies, they should do it on their own time, and not when they’re supposed to be getting educated. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Christopher Maher

The school superintendent looks weak by completely capitulating to the disruptive and irresponsible actions of the students who planned today’s scheduled walkout to protest Donald Trump’s inauguration today. Maher, and the rest of school leadership, should be teaching the students that political activism should take place on the student's own time, not during school hours and that actions, even ones we might consider just, have consequences. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Jorge Elorza

The City of Providence has exploded its spending on outside services since Elorza has become the mayor--more than doubling under his tenure. Meanwhile, members of those firms have raised and donated tens of thousands of dollars to Elorza’s political fundraising operation.

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Pawtucket Red Sox Owners

The push to build a new stadium is back in the news, but this time in Pawtucket, at the site of where the old Apex Building in Pawtucket is located on the city’s riverfront. The team will reportedly ask for subsidies, and tax abatements totaling more than $50 million from Rhode Island taxpayers. That’s much less than the $120 million they asked for two years ago, but it’s still a massive amount of taxpayer dollars to seek from a financially struggling state considering that the team’s ownership group is comprised almost exclusively of out-of-state millionaires like former CVS CEO Tom Ryan. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Agawam Country Club

The exclusive country club located in the Rumford section of East Providence has filed for bankruptcy, listing debts totally somewhere between 1 and 10 million dollars. The golf, squash, and tennis club has been in existence since 1897, and it’s surprising to think that an organization that’s been known for its wealthy members is broke. To quite the classic Fight Club movie, “hey, even the Mona Lisa is falling apart”. 

View Larger +
Prev Next

NOT

Ringling Brothers

The circus has a long, disgraceful history that at its origin featured “freak” shows which basically mocked people with disabilities and deformities. The show eventually evolved into an exploitation of animals for profit--another disgusting practice. Last week, Ringling brothers announced that it was going to end its production. Good riddance. 

 
 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook